Sven Goran Eriksson to quit role as Al Nasr director

Dubai: Al Nasr was dealt a second blow in as many days when former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson announced his immediate resignation as the club’s technical director on Sunday.

“I have fulfilled what I came here for. The club has a solid base. There is a football school and academy in place and it has been a great pleasure to work with chairman Marwan [Bin Gulaitha] and the rest of the board at Al Nasr. It is time to move on,” Eriksson told Gulf News on the sidelines of the second Dubai International Football Academies Forum.

“I am leaving. I have done the job that I was asked to do. Besides setting up the football school and the football academy, I have rendered advice to the board of directors whenever needed. I am leaving for sure,” the Swede said.

Al Nasr’s Italian coach Walter Zenga was voted out of his job on Saturday by the board of directors, throwing up the possibility of Eriksson taking over the reins. The Swede, who last served as coach of Leicester City for a year between October 2010 and 2011, insisted it was time to move on.

“I need a new challenge. I will probably go back to coaching. I cannot tell you where I am going. I will tell you another day,” he said.

Speculation rife

Speculation has been high since the end of 2012 on the future of the journeyman coach. Norwegian media had reported that Eriksson was in talks with Oslo-based Valerenga Fotball, while a month later, Ukraine claimed that they had secured the signature of the Swede for their national team.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Eriksson would be joining German side TSV 1860 Munchen. At the end of last month, it was reported that the Swede may move to Southern China with Guangzhou, while other reports claimed that he had promised to take over the Cameroon national side.

“Maybe I will go to China, maybe I will not,” Eriksson quipped when asked about his future move.

“I am leaving Dubai early tomorrow morning, and I am not going back to Sweden,” he shrugged.

Eriksson is planning to tell the world about his torrid time as England manager in an autobiography that is scheduled for release on October 16 — a day after England’s last World Cup qualifier.

“I will let you know where I am, but that will only be tomorrow,” he added.